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Ramal Royal and Issi Trout and have been voted in as Bristol's first ever youth mayors following Bristol's Big Youth Vote.

The vote - which gave young people the chance to vote for 28 new members of the Youth Select Committee - saw 8,800 young people return ballot papers at polling stations in 57 secondary schools and youth centres across the city. Following their election at the count at The Station on 8 February, the new Youth Select Committee members then voted for the two youth mayors by internal ballot.

As part of Ramal and Issi’s exciting new role they will advise the Mayor of Bristol on decisions affecting young people, attend meetings and accompany the Mayor to events.

Issi Trout (age 16), a student at Redland Green School said:

"I'm really excited about being youth mayor and helping to give young people in Bristol a voice. I want to carry on the Youth Select committee's work to combat bullying and discrimination and particularly want to focus on campaigning for affordable bus travel for young people."

Ramal Royal (age 16) from St Brendan’s Sixth Form College said:

"As well as keeping up the pressure on bus travel I want to do what I can to help young people get an equal wage and ensure anyone from an under privileged background gets the same opportunities as everyone else"

Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson, says:

"The aim of the youth mayors is to bring young minds and young thinking to everything the council does from transport to care for the elderly. I'm really looking forward to working with Ramal, and Issi and the Youth Select committee to be ambitious about the Bristol we want - now and in the future."

The new Youth Select committee members also voted in Theo Davies, Sanya Rajpal,

Christy Nunns, Nell Bailey, Vishal Mamgai and Rajni Mamgai as the new UK Youth Parliament members by internal ballot following the count. Up to forty students studying Public Services at City of Bristol College counted the ballot papers.

Bristol joins London and North Tyneside as the only UK cities with youth mayors.

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Notes for Editors

1. Bristol Youth Select Committee (BYSC): 31 youth select committee candidates stood for 28 places on the BYSC. The 28 places are based on the 14 Neighbourhood partnership area boundaries. Membership runs for two years.

2. Candidate manifesto information and videos are available at www.bristol.gov.uk/page/bristol-youth-select-committee